greystory's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This is more paranormal romance than monster romance proper due to it being a bear shifter but it's a solid shifter romance. I'd heard great things about Owen and they were all true. It's sweet, fast-paced without feeling too fast, and the spice is great. Owen and Cordelia are both lovely characters and I enjoyed them enjoying each other.
Some more things I enjoyed in no particular order:
* Cordelia being plus size
* Cordelia's larger body being worshipped without being fetishized
* Owen being confused and then angry about the shittiness of women's clothing sizing and the way plus sizes are fucked over by the fashion industry
* Bear shifter is kinda cute
* Cordelia getting so damn excited over Owen having bath sheets instead of bath towels. Like damn girl, I understand
* Cordelia being an independent person prior to Owen and taking things into her hands to get the relationship kicked off
* Cordelia chastising herself when she was pouting over Owen
Some more things I enjoyed in no particular order:
* Cordelia being plus size
* Cordelia's larger body being worshipped without being fetishized
* Owen being confused and then angry about the shittiness of women's clothing sizing and the way plus sizes are fucked over by the fashion industry
* Bear shifter is kinda cute
* Cordelia getting so damn excited over Owen having bath sheets instead of bath towels. Like damn girl, I understand
* Cordelia being an independent person prior to Owen and taking things into her hands to get the relationship kicked off
* Cordelia chastising herself when she was pouting over Owen
She had a personality, dammit! She was fun! She was a fun-loving, vivacious, intelligent, and creative woman! She existed before Owen, and she would continue existing without him! She didn’t need a man to fulfill her! She was so much more than a woman crying over a guy! She had goals, dammit! She wanted things! So why the fuck was she just sitting around crying about Owen?
* Owen's relationship with his brothers
* Owen wanting to support Cordelia's hobbies and interests and needs
* Owen calling himself an old bear (he's in his 30s, he's not old)
* Owen's bear reveal scene
* Owen's dirty talk
* Bethany's own relationship.. stuff.. and the way it unfolded to set it up for the next book
* Mrs Free casually understanding
That's non-exhaustive so, yeah, lots of great stuff. I could have done with a tidbit more of some of the side characters given the length of the story and (I know this will sound like blasphemy) a tad less smut in favor of a bit more of them bonding through other activities.
Be aware of the trigger warnings:
* Owen wanting to support Cordelia's hobbies and interests and needs
* Owen calling himself an old bear (he's in his 30s, he's not old)
* Owen's bear reveal scene
* Owen's dirty talk
* Bethany's own relationship.. stuff.. and the way it unfolded to set it up for the next book
* Mrs Free casually understanding
Spoiler
the concept of getting yourself "accidentally" on purpose stranded at a remote cabin for the purposes of an extended sexcation (Mrs Free must have had her own youthful adventures, surely??)That's non-exhaustive so, yeah, lots of great stuff. I could have done with a tidbit more of some of the side characters given the length of the story and (I know this will sound like blasphemy) a tad less smut in favor of a bit more of them bonding through other activities.
Be aware of the trigger warnings:
Spoiler
Dear reader, Owen contains the following: Explicit Sexual Content, Breeding Kink, Forced Orgasms, Stuffing and Stretching, Hint of Choking, Discussion of Future Children, NO PREGNANCY, Self Sabotage (MMC), Self Degradation (MMC), Discussion of Parental Alienation, Discussion of Fat Girl Fashion
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy
inkdrinkers's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"You are more dream than reality."
Owen is just a grumpy old bear. He doesn't have any plans for the future except living in his cabin, occasionally performing his duties as a forest ranger, and running to town for the errant supplies he can't grow or build himself. Of course, everything changes the day he smells Cordelia in Bear Valley. Bear shifters aren't supposed to have fated mates - so why is it he can't stop himself from seeking this woman out? From wanting to invite her back to his cabin, his bed, and make her stay forever?
I LOVED Elle M. Drew's novella Vampire in the Bookstore. I feel like it's so rare to get plus size representation in books that feels accurate and real, but Drew makes me feel safe. The author consistently writes characters who are bigger, getting the same love and attention that every other erotica character receives. Cordelia was a fun character, confident in her sexuality and confident in her drive to drag Owen back to his cabin herself if he wouldn't man up and ask her. I loved the back and forth between these two characters. Owen was a total sweetheart, with his own problems and background to move past, and a devotion to Cordelia that I really loved.
The only thing that docked a half-star for me (which I still gave this a 5 because... big bear shifter) was that I wish we had gotten some more development between the two of them! They do date for a short amount of time, but most of it is glossed over to get to their first time together. This is definitely a porn first, plot later kind of book, but I found myself wanting the plot. I wanted to see the way the two of them interacted in more than just physical ways (though those scenes were all 10/10).
I'm looking forward to the next books! I can't wait to read Gareth's because he's the twin that interests me the most, but I'm also excited to see Bethany get her dues with a certain twin.
Content warnings: Sexual content (whole chapters devoted to it, detailed scenes), pregnancy (breeding talk/talk of future kids! no pregnancy on page)
Owen is just a grumpy old bear. He doesn't have any plans for the future except living in his cabin, occasionally performing his duties as a forest ranger, and running to town for the errant supplies he can't grow or build himself. Of course, everything changes the day he smells Cordelia in Bear Valley. Bear shifters aren't supposed to have fated mates - so why is it he can't stop himself from seeking this woman out? From wanting to invite her back to his cabin, his bed, and make her stay forever?
I LOVED Elle M. Drew's novella Vampire in the Bookstore. I feel like it's so rare to get plus size representation in books that feels accurate and real, but Drew makes me feel safe. The author consistently writes characters who are bigger, getting the same love and attention that every other erotica character receives. Cordelia was a fun character, confident in her sexuality and confident in her drive to drag Owen back to his cabin herself if he wouldn't man up and ask her. I loved the back and forth between these two characters. Owen was a total sweetheart, with his own problems and background to move past, and a devotion to Cordelia that I really loved.
The only thing that docked a half-star for me (which I still gave this a 5 because... big bear shifter) was that I wish we had gotten some more development between the two of them! They do date for a short amount of time, but most of it is glossed over to get to their first time together. This is definitely a porn first, plot later kind of book, but I found myself wanting the plot. I wanted to see the way the two of them interacted in more than just physical ways (though those scenes were all 10/10).
I'm looking forward to the next books! I can't wait to read Gareth's because he's the twin that interests me the most, but I'm also excited to see Bethany get her dues with a certain twin.
Content warnings: Sexual content (whole chapters devoted to it, detailed scenes), pregnancy (breeding talk/talk of future kids! no pregnancy on page)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy
More...